Effect of aeration and dilution on continuous bioethanol production in a packed-bed bioreactor by saccharomyces cerevisiae

Stability of cell growth was achieved continuously at a steady state in a packed-bed bioreactor. The highest productivity of ethanol was achieved (0.02 g/L/h) when 0.003 vvm was employed. The productivity of bioethanol increases when dilution rate increases. The highest production of 0.037 g/L/h was recorded when the dilution rate (D) was at 0.05 per hour. The production of bioethanol was sucessfully maintained in a non 100% anaerobic condition. The best aeration for the continous production of bioethanol in a condition of steady state growth was at an aeration rate of 0.003 vvm

Physiological and growth response of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) to Trichoderma spp. inoculants

Trichoderma spp., a known beneficial fungus is reported to have several mechanisms to enhance plant growth. In this study, the effectiveness of seven isolates of Trichoderma spp. to promote growth and increase physiological performance in rice was evaluated experimentally using completely randomized design under greenhouse condition. This study indicated that all the Trichoderma spp. isolates tested were able to increase several rice physiological processes which include net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal CO(2) concentration and water use efficiency. These Trichoderma spp. isolates were also able to enhance rice growth components including plant height, leaf number, tiller number, root length and root fresh weight. Among the Trichoderma spp. isolates, Trichoderma sp. SL2 inoculated rice plants exhibited greater net photosynthetic rate (8.66 μmolCO(2) m(−2) s(−1)), internal CO(2) concentration (336.97 ppm), water use efficiency (1.15 μmoCO(2)/mmoH(2)O), plant height (70.47 cm), tiller number (12), root length (22.5 cm) and root fresh weight (15.21 g) compared to the plants treated with other Trichoderma isolates tested. We conclude that beneficial fungi can be used as a potential growth promoting agent in rice cultivation

Optimisation of ammonium tartrate and glucose concentration for gamma linolenic acid production by Cunninghamella sp. 2A1.

The effects of ammonium tartrate and glucose concentration on biomass, lipid and GLA accumulation in Cunninghamella sp. 2A1 were investigated using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Cultivation was carried out in 250 mL shake flask containing 100 mL of nitrogen limiting medium (with various combinations of concentration of ammonium tartrate (1-3 g/L) and glucose (30-60 g/L) at 30°C and 250 rpm agitation for 120 h. The concentration of both compounds significantly affected the biomass, lipid and GLA yield (p<0.05), with the production of each of them being represented by quadratic models. Higher concentration of ammonium tartrate and glucose (2.99 and 59.33 g/L, respectively) was required for enhanced biomass production whereas low nitrogen content with excess glucose was otherwise favoured for lipid and GLA production. Ammonium tartrate and glucose concentration at 1 and 43 g/L, respectively were estimated by the model and proven to give the highest lipid production and GLA yield of 31.06 % (g/g biomass) and 4.15 ×10-2 (g/g lipid less biomass), respectively

DNA Isolation and Optimization of ISSR-PCR Reaction System in Oryza sativa L.

Inter simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) have been utilized widely for molecular markers in analyzing the genetic diversity and phylogenetic and regions in the genome flanked by microsatellite sequences. PCR amplification of these regions using a single primer yields multiple amplification products that can be used as a dominant multilocus marker system for the study of genetic variation in various organisms. For this study provides, DNA isolation, adjusting in six factors (Buffer, MgCl2, dNTPs, ISSR primers, Template DNA and Taq polymerase) at six levels, and optimization of PCR temperature for the ISSR reaction was 60-45 °C, primers screening on indica rice (Oryza sativa). In this research, simple method of DNA isolation by using seedling. The objective of the present investigation was to assess the optimizations and quantification. Has been shown that stalk enhanced the maximum value of genomic. The results show that 100 ISSR primers were examined as well as, 56 ISSR primers was productively amplified. Optimum components for PCR reactions were 5.0 μl of 5X PCR Buffer, 1.5 μl of 25mM MgCl2, 1 μl of 10 mM dNTP, 1 μl of 10 Μm ISSR primers, 2 μl Template DNA, and 0.1 μl of 5 units/ml Taq polymerase. Based on this study, has brought out some information on the relationship between these ISSR primers will be applied further for molecular profiling as well as response evaluation in rice varietie

Different media formulation on biocellulose production by Acetobacter xylinum (0416)

Biocellulose (BC), produced by Acetobacter xylinum (0416), was carried out using three types of medium composition under static surface culture. The media used in this experiment included CWHSM (Coconut water in Hestrin-Schramm medium), CM (Complex medium) and HSM (Hestrin-Schramm medium). CWHSM and CM used coconut water from agro-waste as the main source of sugar. The fermentation was conducted for 12 days and the results of BC dry weight, cell entrapped, pH medium and productivity were evaluated and compared. The results show that CWHSM is the most suitable medium for BC production with a productivity of up to 0.044 g l-1 day-1

Biochemical Characterization for Lipid Synthesis in Aspergillus niger

A niger, a fungus which doesn't have high ability to production lipid, this fungus has been select to investigate the non oleaginicity. In this search, there are explorations about: i) growth profile ii) enzymes profile iii) isoforms. Growth profile shows that this fungus doesn't have ability to accumulate lipid more than 6% while bio mass are around 10g/l in spite of the presence of glucose in the media till the end of cultivation time and excision of nitrogen within 24 hrs. In enzyme study, we investigate all lipogenic enzymes Malic enzyme (ME), Fatty acid synthase (FAS), ATP: Citrate lays (ACL), NAD+ isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+ICDH), Glucose-6-phosphate (G6PD), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), all these enzymes show, activities till the end of cultivation time including ACL which is regarded the key enzyme to differentiate between the two species oleaginous and non oleaginous. So, there is no main reason to non oleaginicity for this fungus. A further experiment has been done using Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to identify ME isoforms. The result of Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows multi isoforms (A, B, C, D & E), with low intensity of isoform E, the isoforms that may involve in lipid synthesis. We have now studied the biochemistry of A.niger grown under conditions designed to promote lipid accumulation and can now advance a coherent hypothesis to explain why A niger could not accumulate lipid more than 6%. So the absence of isoforme E is the main reason for non oleaginicity in A niger

Biobutanol production by Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIMB 13357 in modified medium using date fruit as a carbon source

Abstract: Biofuel is an alternative energy that is conceived being the future energy source; it can be produced from natural and renewable agricultural raw materials by microbes. Clostridium acetobutylicum has the ability to ferment variety of compounds to produce solvents such as: Acetone, Butanol, and Ethanol (ABE). This study was designed to investigate the ability of C. acetobutylicum to produce biobutanol or any other possible solvents using date fruit as the organic carbon source under anaerobic condition. The fermentation process was carried out under the following conditions: initial pH 6 and 7, incubation temperatures 30 o C and 35 o C for 70 hours. The effect of date fruit concentrations on C. acetobutylicum was studied 10 -50 g/L. Results showed that 40 g/ L of date fruit under initial pH 7 at 35 o C were the optimum conditions for fermentation process to produce 5.31 g/ L and 8.42 g/ L as biobutanol and total solvents respectively. The yield and productivity of ABE was 0.52 and 0.12 g/(L.h), respectively

Enhanced Butanol Production by Clostridium acetobutylicum

The production of biobutanol was studied by the cultivation of Clostridium acetobutylicum NCIMB 13557 in P2 medium including date fruit as the sole substrate. The effect of P2 medium and the effect of different concentrations of date fruit ranging from 10 to 100 g/L on biobutanol production were investigated. Anaerobic batch culture was carried out at 35°C incubation temperature and pH 7.0 ± 0.2 for 72 h. Experimental results showed that the lowest yield of biobutanol and acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) was 0.32 and 0.35 gram per gram of carbohydrate consumed (g/g), respectively, when an initial date fruit concentration of 10 g/L was utilized. At this fruit date concentration a biobutanol production value of 1.56 g/L was obtained. On the other hand, the maximum yield of biobutanol (0.48 g/g) and ABE (0.63 g/g) was produced at 50 g/L date fruit concentration with a biobutanol production value as high as 11 g/L. However, when a higher initial date fruit concentration was used, biobutanol and ABE production decreased to reach the yield of 0.22 g/g and 0.35 g/g, respectively, where 100 g/L date fruit was used. Similar results also revealed that 10.03 g/L biobutanol was produced using 100 g/L date fruit

Kesedaran dan kelakuan pelajar prasiswazah terhadap aktiviti plagiat dalam penulisan akademik

Makalah ini membincangkan tahap kesedaran dan kelakuan pelajar prasiswazah di universiti terhadap aktiviti plagiat dalam penulisan akademik. Objektif kajian adalah untuk menilai pengetahuan dan pemahaman pelajar mengenai plagiat, termasuk jenis-jenis plagiat yang biasa dilakukan oleh pelajar, tahap keseriusan dan kekerapan perlakuan setiap jenis plagiat. Metodologi yang digunakan ialah pendekatan kuantitatif dengan menggunakan kaedah tinjauan. Instrumen yang digunakan ialah soal selidik yang mempunyai tiga bahagian. Responden kajian terdiri daripada pelajar prasiswazah, dari tahun pertama hingga tahun akhir pengajian di sebuah institusi pengajian tinggi awam di Malaysia dengan menggunakan persampelan rawak mudah. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan, hampir 80% para pelajar prasiswazah mempunyai kesedaran dan mengetahui implikasi aktiviti plagiat, namun begitu mereka mengaku masih melakukan plagiat dalam penulisan akademik. Dapatan dominan menunjukkan empat jenis plagiat dalam takrif serius iaitu pencurian, penyalinan kata demi kata, penulisan hantu dan plagiat lain, manakala aktiviti plagiat seperti parafrasa palsu, parafrasa gelap dan kitar semula dianggap tidak serius kerana mendapat maklum balas yang rendah daripada pelajar. Signifikan kajian ini ialah, dapat membantu pihak universiti untuk mengadakan kursus-kursus penulisan akademik yang beretika supaya peratus plagiat dalam kalangan pelajar dapat dikurangkan seterusnya dapat mengelakkan hal ini daripada berlaku

Supply chain management in the Malaysian construction industry

The construction industry plays an important role in establishing the required infrastructure for socioeconomic development while being a major contributor to ward overall economic growth.As the national economy grows, the construction industry needs to satisfy the expansion and changes in construction demand.To meet the challenges of global competition,the Malaysian construction industry will have to respond to changes in demands.Since the performance of the industry has great implication to the national economy, the construction industry should be promoted to a greater echelon.Therefore, Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a great opportunity for the construction industry primarily to reduce costs and time, thus improving industrial productivity.However, there are obstacles that include poor levels of logistical competence, partly limited competition, strong project focus as well as the attitudes and traditions surrounding the issue.In congruent with SCM principles and practices, the construction industry should consider integrating SCM into its portfolio to boost efficiency and effectiveness throughout the construction value chain. This research looks into the practice of SCM in the Malaysian construction industry.The motives behind this study were to identify dimens ions involved in SCM practices among three categories of construction players, namely contractors, developers, and suppliers. Besides that, this study also went deep into acknowledging the level of intensity of each practice in order to gain a thorough understanding on the related issues.Based on the study, SCM in general, is reasonably considered a common practice in the Malaysian construction industry.It was also found that the level of SCM adoption is good among the construction players.Conclusively, this research has been successful in meeting its objectives.Despite having good adoption level of SCM practices, SCM understanding is still considerably low in certain aspects.This leaves heavy responsibilities on the construction-related government agencies to further enhance the understanding of the construction players regarding SCM practices